A Staten Island teenager is facing charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and weapons possession after allegedly beheading his mother’s boyfriend and placing the victim’s brain matter in a blender, according to law enforcement sources. The grisly scene was discovered in the family’s West Brighton home on Cary Avenue on October 6. The accused, 19-year-old Damien Hurstel, reportedly confessed to the crime.
The victim, 45-year-old Anthony Casalaspro, was found with a plastic soup ladle on his torso and his severed head nearby, a spoon protruding from it. The purpose of the blender and its contents remains unclear. Hurstel, who was initially hospitalized, has since been transferred to solitary confinement in Rikers Island jail.
Hurstel’s attorney, Mark Fonte, described his client’s mental state as troubling. “He was having a real difficult time separating fantasy from reality,” Fonte said. The lawyer has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on Hurstel’s behalf, citing his client’s confusion about the events surrounding the crime.
Hurstel’s mother, Alicia Zayas, revealed that her son had been struggling with mental health issues since he was 13, experiencing hallucinations and taking antipsychotic medication. She monitored his condition throughout his teenage years, but once he turned 18, she was no longer privy to his medical information.
Zayas claimed that doctors at Richmond University Medical Center changed Hurstel’s medication in January without her knowledge, a move she believes led to her son’s deteriorating mental state. The medical center has not commented on the matter, citing patient confidentiality.
The teenager’s 16-year-old sister was reportedly shown the bloody scene by Hurstel, who then asked her if she wanted their mother to live. The sister fled the bathroom and called her mother to warn her about the situation.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of mental health awareness and the need for effective communication between healthcare providers and families, particularly when dealing with patients who have a history of severe mental illness.